Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

I ask because I saw Saw VI that day I think & they took prints off a guy's closed eyelids. Speaking of which, they found traces of Freon R-12 within the prints, as the hand possessing them was removed from a 'corpse' & refrigerated. Is that possible?

Asked by R-Mod almost 7 years ago

I am not sure that it would be possible to detect freon, particuarly the type of freon, as I have no idea what instrumentation would be used or its limits of detection or what effect contact with live or dead would have on the compounds, whether it would tend to react with them or not. I do think it's highly unlikely they would look for that as they would most likely, after the prints had been developed and photographed for the ridge detail, swab up the prints and test them for DNA from the person who left the prints. That process would be designed to detect DNA and nothing else. I suspect these results would come from a magical movie 'Batcomputer' that can tell you every single thing about anything on the planet you drop into it.

Hi, my name is Tyler and I have a lot of questions and was wondering if it was possible to talk to you one on one via email if that's OK. My email is tylerkinsler@yahoo.com.

Asked by Tyler almost 7 years ago

Sure, I'll email you.

With respect to drug profiling, could you please explain why it is necessary to have a full understanding of the chemistry of drug synthesis?

Asked by Laura over 6 years ago

I'm sorry but I've never worked in toxicology.

Why is a fingerprint, glass, tire tracks, handwriting, bloodstain or footwear impressions important in a investiagation? Why do these take a more careful analysis than other evidence like DNA?

Asked by lubashka99 over 6 years ago

Because fingerprints, tire tracks, footwear impressions and sometimes handwriting can, with sufficient individual characteristics, be identified to a specific person or item. (Glass can as well in the case of a 'jigsaw' match, when it physically fits into a piece of evidence.) These analyses require human attention and thorough training and competency and are not quite as simply done as adding a blood sample to a thermocycler for DNA analysis. Explaining DNA analysis takes a highly trained analyst but the actual process is largely automated.

I am conducting a research assignment for my Writing 222 class and wanted to site a source off of my own interview. I was wondering if you would mind answering a few questions through email. If you're interested please email me at jennahr45@gmail.com

Asked by Jennah over 6 years ago

Sure, I'll email you.

1. What is the work environment like?
2. What does the day to day consist of at work?
3. What qualities do you think that someone needs to become a forensic scientist?
4. How often as a forensic scientist have you had to show up at court?
5. How many years of schooling did you go through to become a forensic scientist?
6. What do you find the most challenging aspect of the job?
7. What skills do you find to be the most important to have when entering the job of a forensic scientist?
8. What made you want to become a forensic scientist?
9. About how many hours do you work a day?
10. What do you enjoy most about the job?
11. How did your career begin?

Asked by Student over 6 years ago

For school projects please email me at: lisa-black@live.com

As an aspiring forensic scientist, do you have any advice or suggestions for me before I enter this career?

Asked by Eric about 7 years ago

Take all the science courses you can and visit labs that do the kind of services you’re interested in.